The 29th annual Virginia Literary Awards took place on September 19, 2026, recognizing authors across various genres including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children's literature. The event highlighted the achievements of notable writers and aimed to inspire a continued appreciation for literature within the community.
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Stephen Starring Grant was awarded for nonfiction for his book "Mailman: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home." Fiction honors went to Princess Joy L. Perry for "This Here Is Love," while MaKshya Tolbert received the poetry award for her debut collection, "Shade Is a Place." Meg Medina won the Children's Literature Award for her work "Graciela in the Abyss." The People’s Choice Awards acknowledged Andrew Lawler’s "A Perfect Frenzy: A Royal Governor, His Black Allies, and the Crisis That Spurred the American Revolution" in nonfiction, and Virginia Evans’ "The Correspondent" for fiction.
Sue Prideaux was honored with The Art in Literature: The Mary Lynn Kotz Award for her book "Wild Thing: A Life of Paul Gauguin," which has received multiple accolades. At the event, Prideaux humorously discussed the challenging nature of Gauguin’s character, garnering laughter from attendees.
The ceremony included a cocktail reception that facilitated networking among authors, journalists, and literary enthusiasts. The author David Baldacci was present, having just released his historical fiction novel "Strangers in Time." Jon Kukla, a historian, shared light-hearted conversations about Patrick Henry during the evening.
Judy Hart, who authored "A National Park for Women’s Rights: The Campaign That Made It Happen," discussed her initiatives to create a park dedicated to women’s rights, marking the 1848 convention's significance in Seneca Falls, New York. The media also got a chance to connect with Library of Virginia Chief Communication Officer Angela Flagg, who updates journalists on library events.
The event was hosted by acclaimed author Adriana Trigiani, who paid tribute to recently passed literary figures, including writer Annie Dillard. Trigiani shared an anecdote about her collaboration with Dolly Parton, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the literary community.
Carly Fiorina, chair and CEO of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, received the 2026 Patron of Letters degree, the highest honor from the library, recognizing her commitment to promoting literacy and reading.
As the evening concluded, attendees left with signed books and a renewed sense of pride in the literary achievements coming from Virginia, hoping these awards will shine a light on the authors’ contributions.